Untempered Mortar

In building, it is not difficult to conceal shoddy workmanship temporarily.  But in the long run, cut corners have a way of broadcasting themselves.  A new house can look immaculate until the rains come and show the waterproofing was not done correctly.  That retaining wall may appear straight and true, but before long the plaster can chip off to reveal massive cracks.  A unit may appear clean on inside and out, but a broken sewer main underneath will foul the air as waste ponds.  The lights may work fine, yet a quick peek above the ceiling might reveal a wiring nightmare and deathtrap.

God chose the Jews as His special people and gave them His Laws.  They were pleased to have His guidance, provision, and for Him to fight their battles.  Over the passage of time, however, the Bible describes an erosion towards idol worship and disobedience.  The morality of God's people looked much like the heathen which surrounded them.  They maintained the outer appearance of piety through traditions and sacrifices, but they had heaped false gods to themselves and did evil in God's sight.  The cracks in the walls of their society built upon the foundation of faith in God were evident and clear.  God sent Ezekiel to warn the people of impending judgment for their sins.  He spoke the truth among many competing voices - false prophets who told the people what they wanted to hear.

God was against the false prophets who spoke lies in His name.  They promised "peace" where there was no peace.  They were like the townspeople who complimented the naked emperor for his fine clothes and urged others to agree with them.  The word of the LORD was spoken through the prophet in Ezekiel 13:10-16:  "Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace--and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar--¹¹ say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down. ¹² Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, 'Where is the mortar with which you plastered it?'" ¹³ Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and great hailstones in fury to consume it. ¹⁴ So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. ¹⁵ Thus will I accomplish My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it with untempered mortar; and I will say to you, 'The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it, ¹⁶ that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,' " says the Lord GOD."  Every word came to pass, and God's truth will endure forever.

We live in a similar day, when people speak led by their own hearts concerning morality.  The world is keen to be politically correct, but cares nothing for righteousness according to God's standard.  There are false prophets all over the world who build walls to suit themselves, daubed with untempered mortar - sand without enough cement.  Only a fool would render a cracked slab of concrete or structural wall with massive cracks, thinking a slather of mortar will fix the gaps.  No!  A superficial "fix" is no fix at all.  Rebar, epoxy, and concrete engineered specifically for the job are required to restore structural integrity, applied skillfully by trained craftsman.  God would see to it that the lies would be washed away as well as those who spread them.  The lying prophets would be utterly destroyed.

Satan is a liar and thief from the beginning, and he is the author of the social, moral, philosophical, political, and spiritual erosion we see in the world today as people depart from the precepts of God's Word.  He has many mouths spouting lies in every arena, spreading untempered mortar of subjectivity over moral deficiencies.  The structure is dangerously close to falling, yet the untempered mortar is daubed on.  God has been denied, His word scoffed, His people despised and blamed for all the problems in the world.  "A little more mortar and she'll be right," say the liars - unaware their souls and those who trust in them are in mortal danger.

Today is the day for boldness in righteousness, O Christian!  Let us not be those who flee when we are called to the fight.  We serve an everlasting God whose Word endures forever, a Rock of Salvation Who cannot be moved.  Not one who trusts in Him will be ashamed.  David wrote in Psalm 11:1-7, "In the LORD I put my trust; how can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain"? ² For look! The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. ³ If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? ⁴ The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. ⁵ The LORD tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. ⁶ Upon the wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup. ⁷ For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright."

Let us be as Ezekiel who spoke the Word of the LORD, not moved by the desires of his own heart.  The enemy of our souls will continue to smear his falsehoods, but they will not avail him on the Day of Judgment.  It is time to value righteousness over "political correctness," for love is willing to resolutely speak the truth - even willing to die - so others might have life in Jesus.